he fought to protect -- florida's environment -- protect florida's environment by blocking drilling close to our gulf coast and helping restore eroding beaches. with beverly, bill helped create a national bone morrow registry with almost 10 million donors registered thus far. just as he fought for his own district, he could always be counted upon to help us with our constituent needs. in 1991, he saved mcdill air force base in his district from closure and the year later he helped rebuild and protect homestead air reserve base in my congressional district after the devastation of hurricane andrew. through his vital effort, the miami river in my district, that raging project -- dredging project was completed, a project that continued to generate billions for the shipping industry, to create jobs and spur economic growth in south florida. it couldn't have -- it couldn't have happened without bill young. bill's instrumental in assisting tampa bay residents and those in my south florida community and indeed across our country. a true gentleman, a public servant ant a -- and a friend. bill you